Vehicle-tire



(No Model.)

R. W. CHURCHILL. VEHICLE TIRE.

NQEVEEOQ] Patented Eeb. 9, 1897.

WITNEE EE E INVBNT ER'. (f/IML w26/Mt. l /FM/ MM UixuriibA STATES vPrfrENT OFFICE.

nom-:Rr w. CHURCHILL, or ransom', MAssAci-IUSETTS.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,809, dated vFebruary 9, 189'?.

Application tiled November 20. 1855. Serial No. 569,486. (No model-i l To all ruhen/1f 11m ,1/ concern.: I

Be it known that l, ROBERT lV. CHURCHILL,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Peabody, in the county of Essex and Conlnionwcalth of .=`\[assachusetts, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Vehicle- Tires, ot which thc'follou-'ing. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is

a specification.,vlv

The present ipvention relates to improvements in that class of vehicle-tires commonly termed cushion or elastic tires; and it' consists of a tubularcasing of suitable flexible material which incloses a coiled spring the coils of which engage its inner'wall and-actto keep it expanded, and a cushioning device' located within the springandindependent.

thereof, which acts to relieve the spring when compressed beyond a predetermined limit.

I am awa-re that it has heretofore been proposed to provide a tubular flexible casing with a coiled spring engaging its inner wallto keep it expanded; but such arrangement has heretofore been -foundto be objectionable in that when compressed beyond a certain limit the coils of the spring became set in their conipressed form and position and did not perform their intended function.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the objections above cited and to provide an eieeti've and durable device of this v class.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section' through a portion of a vehicle-tire embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top view 4with a section ot' the casing removed. Fig. 3

is a transverse `vertical section.

l v Similar letters of reference referto similar ably placed a second coiled sp1-ing D, the respective cils of which interiorly engage the respective coils of the spring B, preferably along the tread of the tire. 'lhe springs B and D are wound in opposite directions-that is to sayone is a right-hand spring, so called, and the other a lett-hand spring, and the coils engaging each other, as shown, forma system of elastic bracing which not only tends to resist a force normally applied to compress the tire, but also eiectually prevents the coils of eitherspring from being overset or capsized bya force applied otherwise than normally to the casing.

The springs B and D are preferably made" -of flattened wire, similar to that used in the common form of clock-springs, andare h'cld in position in the tire by being embedded in its inner Wall, which is suitably groove'd'for thatpurpose.

VIt .will be noted that when arranged as above stated the springs B and D may be made of ver 1 thin and light material and a great degrec of effectiveness and durability secured. I desire to say in this connection that while I prefer to use the spring D for the reason above set forth I do not consider the present invention as limited thereto,and the same may be omitted, 0r some other system of bracing the outer spring substituted therefor, without any departure from the present invention.

The reference-letter E represents what I have termed a cushioning device, which is located within,- but which is independentv of, the springsD and B. The cushioning device E does not begin to act, but remains entirely unaffected by the compression of the springs B and D, until the springs B and D have been partially compressed, when the cushioning device E assumes a portion of the strain and prevents too great compression of springs D and B.

As shown in the drawings, the cushioning device E consists of a coiled spring, )referably made of ratan or some other light and elastic material, which is placed in the tubular casing A within the springs D.'and B. The coiled spring forming the cushioning device E is of less diameter thaneit-her of the Aspri'n s D and B and -is held in contact therewith or with the inside of casing- A) along the portion adjacent to the rim H.

'lhc abovc arrangement leaves a space bctween the tread portion of the casing A and the cushioning device E through which thesprings D and B must be compressed before being brought in contact with the cushion E,

, which acts as a reinforcement to prevent fursurface traveled orother cause.

When the form of cushioning device shown in the drawings is used, it may be conveniently held in position by its own elasticity,

- being-slightly shorter than the casing. I desire to say in thisconnection that I am aware that it has been proposed to provide in a tubular tire n coiled spring having alternate coils of different diameters for the purpose of allowing the spring to contract instead of `flatten underpressure, but such arrangement differs widely both in principle and mode of operation from the cushioning dev'ice herein described, which, as before stated, forms no.

part of either spring and performs no func tion until the springs have been compressed beyond a predetermined limit.

I wish, further, to sayin regard to the cushclosed by thc casing and engaging the inner ioning device that I do not consider my invention limited to the specific form shown, as it is evident that a cushion of rubber, cork,

or other suitable material might be substi# tuted therefor and similarly arranged to secure substantially the same results.

I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letl ters Patent--- 1. AIn a vehicle-tire the combination with a flexible tubular casing of a coiled spring inwall thereof,` an oppositely-wound coiled spring the respective coils of which interiorly engage the respective coils of the first-mentioned spring, and a cushioning device located within and independent of bot-h sprngs,.snb stantially as described. 2. In a vehicle-tire the combination with a flexible tubular casing of a duplex coiled spring, comprising two springs the coils of which are wound in opposite directions,` and in close contact with each other and with the inner wall of the casing, and an independent metallic cushioning device'located withinsaid duplex spring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my this 18th day ROBERT 'itnesses:

BENJAMIN PHILLIPS, A. E. WHYTE.

of November, A. D. 1895.

XV. CHURCHILL.

hand, in the presence of Vtwo witnesses, 

